Apparatus for performing operations on shoe components



I April 16, 1963 e. T. RALPHS 3,035,266

APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING OPERATIONS ON SHOE COMPONENTS Filed Sept. 12, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. T. RALPHS April 16, 1963 APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING OPERATIONS ON SHOE COMPONENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1961 A ril 16, 1963 G. T. RALPHS APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING OPERATIONS ON SHOE COMPONENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 12, 1961 F/GB A rll 16, 1963 G. T. RALPHS 3,085,265

APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING OPERATIONS ON SHOE COMPONENTS Filed Sept. 12, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 16, 1963 G. T. RALPHS 3,085,265

APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING OPERATIONS 0N SHOE COMPONENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 12, 1961 Fsw MAS

APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING OPERATIONS This invention is for improvements in apparatus for performing operations on shoe components, the term shoe being used herein wherever the context so permits in a broad sense to include all forms of outer footwear. The invention has for one of its objects to enable operations to be performed on the edges of workpieces effectively up to positions at which the contour is such as to interfere with the proper automatic performing of such operation.

The invention is concerned with machines organised for performing operations on edge portions of soles and sole units and of the type in which a sole or sole unit is advanced by a feed wheel edgewise into engagement with a rotating tool and its angular relationship to the tool is controlled by an edge guide. Known machines of this type are employed for imparting the final shaping to the edge surfaces of unattached shoe soles or sole portions of sole units. These machines operate automatically to cause a sole or sole unit on being presented in suitable manner to the instrumentalities to be traversed past the tool so that successive portions of its edge are engaged progressively and uniformly by the rotating tool to cause them to be uniformly shaped thereby. In the case of soles or sole units having relatively sharply pointed toes the proper tracking of the workpieces at the toe end against the tool presents certain difiiculties and it is desirable in this case to perform the final edge shaping operation in two steps in which the two side edges extending up to the toe extremity [are respectively shaped. With this procedure it is necessary to arrest the feed of the workpiece precisely at the end of each side and the speed of working is such that an operator controlled release will not enable the feed to be arrested with sufficient precision or regularity to ensure that the action of the tool on the sole edge will be stopped at the correct point. Accordingly the invention seeks to provide effective means for arresting the feed of the workpiece with the requisite precisron.

in accordance with the invention there is provided a machine of the type specified equipped with means for sensing the approach towards the tool of a sharply curved contour on the workpiece and for effecting prompt release of the feed of the workpiece on the approach of said contour to near the tool. The provision of such means enables the feed of the workpiece to be stopped at the correct position with regularity so that all workpieces of a batch are processed accurately to the same position on the sole edge, this position being arranged to be at about the middle, or somewhat beyond the middle, or around the bend, of the sharply pointed toe end. The feed movement is conveniently arrested by causing the feed wheel to be withdrawn from the workpiece, thus stopping the advancement of the workpiece towards the tool and leaving it free to be moved away therefrom.

In a convenient construction the release of the feed of the work-piece is controlled by the edge guide by utilizing the release of bearing engagement of the workpiece thereagainst to effect release of the feed movement. Thus in the case of a workpiece having its toe end so pointed as to require such rapid slewing round of the workpiece when operating on the toe end that a tendency for mis-shaping the edge at that place arises, such tendency will be accompanied by relief of the bearing engagement atent Q mint Patented Apr. 16, 1953 of the workpiece on the edge guide, and this will bring about immediate stoppage of the feed movement and re lease of the workpiece. The edge guide may be so arranged as to have a slight yielding movement towards and away from the workpiece and be so arranged that for normal working it is deflected by being engaged by the edge of the workpiece. Thus when such engagement is partly or wholly released the edge guide will move and such movement will be used to operate (e.g. with a triggering action) means for disengaging the feed wheel from the workpiece.

Preferably a yieldably mounted edge guide as aforesaid is arranged to actuate a micro-switch controlling energisation of a solenoid by which movement of the feed wheel into and out of its operative setting is controlled.

More specifically the feed wheel is supported in a feed arm which is arranged to be lifted and lowered consequent upon operation of said solenoid for lifting and lowering the associated feed wheel. Conveniently the arrangement is such that when a workpiece is presented to the machine and brought against the edge guide, the feed wheel is immediately lowered to grip and feed the workpiece and the feed is continued until the sharply pointed toe end of the workpiece causes release of the edge guide and consequent stoppage of the feed movement by raising of the feed wheel. Conveniently also for the purpose of arresting the feed movement when required there may be an operator actuated control member e.g. a pedal for controlling energisation of the solenoid, and switch means operable to bring the solenoid alternatively under automatic control of the edge guide or of the operator actuated control member.

The machine may have timing means for effecting prompt release of the feed of a workpiece at a predetermined short interval after the sensing means initiates the release. Conveniently the micro-switch, actuated by the slight yielding movement of the edge guide towards and away from the workpiece, controls energisation of a timer, and the latter actuates the solenoid by which movement of the feed wheel into and out of operation is therefore controlled to eifect the release of the feed movement after a slight delay to which the timer is set.

The timing means is conveniently of electric timing control type capable of adjustment to enable its delay period to be varied through a range of fractional second timings. Conveniently also the rotary tool is provided with a work engaging surface of such suitable character as to render it capable of gripping and feeding the work without marking or substantially marking the surface thereof.

The above and other features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the construction which will now be described as a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a trimming or contouring machine for shoe soles or sole units according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the machine;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the machine;

FIGURE'4 is an enlarged plan view of an operating head of the machine;

FIGURE 5 is a detail sectional view of part of the machine, in the region of the work;

FIGURE 6 is a diagram of a electric circuit for the machine.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a box-like machine frame 1 supports a left hand operating head, indicated generally at 2, and a spaced right hand operating head, indicated generally at 3, through the intermediary of a support table 4, on the frame 1, and which is common to both heads.

Each head has its own driven feed wheel 5, driven through suitable separate drive transmitting means including belts and pulleys or chains and sprockets represented at 6, 6, by its own motor 7, 7' mounted on the frame 1, the feed wheels 5, 5, being also mounted on the frame 1, by means to be hereinafter described, in face to face relationship with the table 4.

Each head also has its own edge trimming rotary tool 8, 8', and its own edge guide 9, 9 (FIGURE 3).

It is to be noted that whereas in the left hand head the tool '8 is offset to the left of the feed wheel 5 and the edge guide 9, in the right hand head the tool 8' is offset to the right of the feed wheel 5' and the edge guide 9': the two heads are thereby arranged in laterally inverse order, and the respective rotatable parts are rotated in opposite directions.

The said common table 4 may be vertically adjusted towards and'away from the feed wheels 5, 5', conveniently by a hand wheel control 17 (FIGURE 1), supported by a bracket 18 from the frame 1 and operating an adjusting screw 19 with screw nut 20 which is connected to a link 21. The link 21 is connected to an arm 22 fixed on a spindle 23 supported in brackets 24 (FIGURE 2) and also fixed on the spindle 23 there are spaced cams 25 which bear against plates -4a on the underside of the table 4. There is further fixed on the spindle 23 an arm 22a which is connected by a link 26 to a corresponding arm 27 (FIGURE 1) fixed on a spindle 29, the latter being supported in brackets such as 30 and having cams such as 28 fixed thereon. The arrangement is consequently such that when the handwheel 17 is rotated, the cams 25, 28 are rotated through the intermediary of the mechanism just described to cause rise or fall of the table 4. To prevent any sideways movement of the table 4 and also to keep it firmly in contact with the cams 25, 28, there are provided spring loaded guide rods represented at 4b in FIGURE 3. A second arm 31 on the spindle 29 has a pointer 32 co-operating with a scale 33. By this means the table 4 is adjustable uniformly at the same time operating a visible indicator with reference to which desired adjustments can be made.

Traverse of work on the table 4, in a manner to be described, may be facilitated by a roller 40 (FIGURE 5) carried by the table 4 and engaging under the work.

The machine is operable on shoe soles or sole units, such as shown at S in FIGURE 4, having their toe ends, such as indicated at I, of relatively sharply pointed configuration.

In the instance of the left hand head 2, a shoe sole or unit such as S is fed by the driven feed wheel 5, starting with the heeled end H of the left hand edge LE against the tool 8, in a direction substantially from right to left, whereupon the left hand edge LE of the shoe sole or sole unit is trimmed or contoured by the tool s progressively along this edge LE.

The operation is allowed to continue only to the region of the toe T whereupon the operation is terminated by any suitable means such as to be hereinafter described.

In complementary manner with reference to the right hand head 3, a shoe sole or sole unit such as S is fed by the driven feed wheel 5', starting with the heel end HI of the right hand edge RE against the tool S, in a direction substantially from left to right, whereupon the right hand edge RE of the shoe sole or sole unit is trimmed or contoured by the tool 8, progressively along this edge RE.

This second operation is allowed to continue only to the region of the toe T whereupon the operation is terminated by any suitable means such as to be hereinafter described.

-It will be noted that the relative traversing for the first operation ie on the left hand edge LE is in one direction (right to left) at one side (the front side) of one rotary tool (8), and the second operation, ie on the right hand side RE is in the opposite direction (left to right) at the same side (the front side) of a second similar rotary tool (8): consequently the shoe sole or unit has the same face uppermost in each instance, this face conveniently being an unexposed face in use so that any markings which may bemade' by. the feed wheel on this face will not be seen in use, and the other face, to be exposed in use, will not be contacted by the feed wheels so that this face will be unmarked thereby.

It will be understood that by the above arrangement, edge trimming or contouring can be effected satisfactorily 'on shoe soles or sole units having relatively sharply pointed toe ends.

In one suitable arrangement, termination of said operations is effected by raising the associated feed wheel clear of the work. More specifically each feed wheel 5, 5' is carried by its own mounting respectively (FIG- URES 1, 3) and conveniently each mounting is in the form of a mounting arm 1%, 10 pivoted at 11, '1'1 to a support bracket 12, 12' on the frame 1 (see particularly FIGURE 2 for the pivotal arrangement for feed wheel 8').

The mounting arms 10, 10' are connected, such as for the right hand mounting arm 10', at locations such as 13' to two solenoids such as 14- which are operable to pivotally raise the mounting arms such as '10 out of effective operation against spring means such as 15' for returning them.

In a manually controlled arrangement, primarily for continued operation round the toes of shoe soles or sole units having rounded toe ends, two pedal operated micro switches such as PSW in the circuit diagram FIGURE 6 are rendered effective on the solenoids such as 14 first by operating main switches represented at MSW, MSW (FIGURE 6 for MSW FIGURE 1 for both) and then operating manual-auto switches MAS, MAS (FIGURE 6 for MAS, FIGURE 1 for both) to switch over to manual control. Thereafter the lifting of the feed wheels 5, 5', clear of the work at the end of each operation can be effected by operation of the foot pedals to operate the solenoids through the pedal operated switches such as PSW.

Alternatively, lifting of the feed wheels can be effected automatically, for terminating operations at the toe ends of shoe soles or sole units having relatively pointed toe ends, by reverse operating the manual-auto switches MAS, MAS by which the solenoids such as 14' come under automatic control of sensing means. More specifically the edge guides 9, 9 are arranged to have a slight yielding movement towards and away from the shoe sole or sole unit such as S by being carried by levers 42, 42' (FIGURE 3) pivoted at 43, 43" to supporting bars 44, 44' and engaging, on the edge guide side of the pivots 43, '43 with switch-operating rods such as 45 in FIGURE 4, these rods also engaging feed-operated micro switches such as FSW' (also FIGURE 6) which are resilient in known manner and which by said reverse operation of the manual-auto switches MAS, MAS are effective on the solenoids, in this instance without timers such as that shown at 53 in FIGURE 6. For slidable support of the rods such as 45 they extend freely through spaced lugs such as 46, 47 carried by the bars 44, 44' and for adjusting of the setting of the edge guides 9, 9', there are adjustment screws 48, 48 (FIGURE 3) extending freely through the other ends of the levers 42, 4-2 and screwing into lugs 49, 4-9 carried by the bars 44, 44', with knurled heads 50, 50' lock nuts 51, 51', and end nuts 52, 52, on the screws, andthere being a clearance between the respective heads 50, 50" levers 42, 42 and the lock nuts 51, 51', to allow the yielding movement.

In operation, when a workpiece is presented to the machine and brought against either of the edge guides 9, 9' the edge guide is deflected to open the associated micro switch such as FSW thereby to cause de-energisation of the associated solenoid thereby allowing the springs such as. 15' to lower the associated feed wheel 5, 5' to grip and feed the workpiece against the tool; the feed is continued until the toe end T of the workpiece travels clear of the edge guide 9, 9 whereupon the edge guide returns ary of slots such as 44a and there may be adjustment means operable by a handle 44b, 44b, for adjusting the edge guide mechanism 44-52 to suit the workpiece, conveniently with reference to a scale 44c, 44c and a pointer 44d, 44d" displaced by the adjustment.

If desired timing means may be provided for elfecting prompt release of the feeds respectively at a predetermined short interval after the edge guide has initiated the release. More specifically, and as represented in FIGURE 1, two electric timers are provided 53, '53 (53' also in the circuit diagram FIGURE 6) operatively connected between the solenoids such as 14' and the electrical switches referred to.

Consequently when either of the feed-operated micro switches such as PSW' is closed by the toe end of the workpiece passing clear of the edge guide 9, 9', this does not immediately cause Energisation of the solenoid but instead it immediately actuates the associated timer, the arrangement being such that the feed continues during the short interval of time to which the timer is preset, but immediately this interval is over the timer causes energisation of the solenoid to raise the associated feed wheel clear of the workpiece to terminate the operation.

Conveniently the timers are of adjustably preset type to be adjustable for operation with different time intervals of fractional second duration according to requirements, such that the delay in release produced by the timer may amount to only a fraction of a second having regard to the speed at which the workpiece is fed past the tool: by these means all workpieces can be stopped with such regular-ity that all those of a batch will be processed to the same high degree of accuracy.

The feed wheels may each be faced with a Work enga ing ring or disc of specially selected yieldable material such as a synthetic tough rubber-like composition which will exert the required gripping action on the workpiece Without marking the surface thereof. This is of particular use if it is required for a feed wheel to operate on a face of the workpiece which is exposed in use so that this face is maintained unmarked.

Edge brushing means may be provided briefly comprising a brushing device 34 (FIGURES 1, 3, 5) common to both heads, the device embodying two circular brushes 35, 36 (FIGURE 3) presented in nip forming relation by arms 37, 38 on a common pivot 39, and two pairs of nip rollers 40, 41 (FIGURE 2) at opposite sides of the brushes and through which workpieces can be passed to guide them to pass between the brushes.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for performing operations on edge portions of unattached soles or sole units for footwear, the combination comprising a rotary tool, a feed wheel for advancing a workpiece edgewise against the tool, an edge guide to control the angle of approach of the workpiece to the tool, means mounting said tool, feed wheel and edge guide in co-operative relationship, operating means for the tool and feed wheel, and means for sensing the approach towards the tool of a sharply curved contour on the workpiece and means for efiecting prompt release of the feed of the workpiece on the approach of said contour to near the tool.

2. A combination according to claim 1 comprising timing means associated with the sensing means for efliecting prompt release of the feed of a workpiece at. a predetermined interval after the sensing means has initiated the release. I

3. A combination according to claim 1 having means mounting the feed wheel for movement into and out of engagement with the workpiece and means actuated by the sensing means to withdraw the feed wheel from engagement with the workpiece.

4. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the sensing means is responsive to the release of bearing engagement of the workpiece against the edge guide.

5. A combination according to claim 4 having mounting means for the edge guide permitting slight yielding movement thereof in directions towards and away from the workpiece to adapt the guide normally to be deflected by engagement with the edge of the workpiece, the sensing means being responsive to return movement of the edge guide when its engagement by the workpiece is partly or wholly released.

6. A combination according to claim 5 comprising a solenoid coupled to the feed wheel for moving the latter into and out of operative position, a micro switch controlling energisation of said solenoid and means coupling the micro switch for actuation by the yieldable edge guide.

7. A combination according to claim 6 comprising a feed arm supporting said feed wheel, means mounting the feed arm for lifting and lowering movements and a coupling between the solenoid and the feed arm to operate the latter.

8. A combination according to claim 7 having means actuated by the edge guide whereby the presentation of a workpiece against the edge guide causes the feed wheel to be moved to grip and feed the workpiece and to continue such feed until pressure on the edge guide is released.

9. A combination according to claim 6 comprising an operator actuated control member for controlling energisation of the solenoid, and switch means operable to bring the solenoid alternatively under the automatic control of the edge guide or under control by the operator actuated control member.

10. A combination according to claim 6 comprising timing means energised by the micro switch and arranged to actuate the solenoid to elfect release of the feed of the workpiece after a slight delay predetermined by the timing means.

11. A combination according to claim 10 wherein the timing means is of electric timing control type and includes adjusting means for varying its delay operable through a range of fractional second timings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PERFORMING OPERATIONS ON EDGE PORTIONS OF UNATTACHED SOLES OR SOLE UNITS FOR FOOTWEAR, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A ROTARY TOOL, A FEED WHEEL FOR ADVANCING A WORKPIECE EDGEWISE AGAINST THE TOOL, AN EDGE GUIDE TO CONTROL THE ANGLE OF APPROACH OF THE WORKPIECE TO THE TOOL, MEANS MOUNTING SAID TOOL, FEED WHEEL AND EDGE GUIDE IN CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP, OPERATING MEANS FOR THE TOOL AND FEED WHEEL, AND MEANS FOR SENSING THE APPROACH TOWARDS THE TOOL OF A SHARPLY CURVED CONTOUR ON THE WORKPIECE AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING PROMPT RELEASE OF THE FEED OF THE WORKPIECE ON THE APPROACH OF SAID CONTOUR TO NEAR THE TOOL. 